Unseeded and free of the weight of expectations that comes with being the nation’s top-ranked woman for the first time since the inaugural Brisbane International in 2009, Sam Stosur approaches her first-round assignment against No.7 seed Anastasija Sevastova on Sunday with a fresh outlook.
The now third-ranked Aussie returns to her home tournament for the eighth time as she continues her comeback from a right hand injury suffered during the 2017 French Open. The 33-year-old has split her four head-to-head meetings with the crafty Latvian, including one win apiece in 2017.
Opening the Day 1 session on Pat Rafter Arena, it will be a battle of the Frenchwomen with No.4 seed Caroline Garcia taking on feisty compatriot and last year’s Brisbane International runner-up, Alize Cornet.
The 24-year-old Garcia carries a 3-0 record into the clash, including a fourth-round triumph over Cornet to reach her maiden grand slam quarter-final at last year’s French Open.
Unorthodox 2012 men’s runner-up, Alexandr Dolgopolov, makes his return to Pat Rafter Arena on Sunday against diminutive Argentine, sixth seed Diego Schwartzman. Despite battling a slew of injuries in 2017, Dolgopolov captured his third career title and first since 2012 in Buenos Aires over Kei Nishikori.
The former world No.13 lost to Rafael Nadal in his opening match on Pat Rafter Arena in 2017 and will be keen to overturn a 0-1 record against Schwartzman. The 25-year-old Argentine had his best season in 2017 to finish at No.26 in the rankings on the back of a maiden grand slam quarter-final at the US Open.
Closing the day’s play on Pat Rafter Arena will be Australian wild card Alex De Minaur as he takes on American Steve Johnson. The 18-year-old De Minaur comes off a win in the Australian Open wildcard play-off and will look to go one better than his first-round defeat on debut against Mischa Zverev last year.
In other matches on outside courts, Australian wildcards Ajla Tomljanovic and Destanee Aiva will square off while Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua will take on American Madison Keys and Brit Heather Watson in first-round doubles action.
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